African swine fever (ASP) is a dangerous animal disease and therefore notifiable in Austria. No cases of African swine fever have ever occurred in Austria. In case of crisis diagnosis is made at the national reference laboratory of AGES.

The 2017 Annual Report provides an overview of the many and varied activities and services provided by AGES and a retrospective on the issues AGES was mainly involved in during 2017.Available in German.

This year again a mass flight of cockchafers is to be expected in certain areas of Upper Austria, Salzburg and Tyrol. Their swarming is noticeable during the evening hours at forest edges or striking single trees.

The number of people in Europe suffering from Legionnaires’ disease (legionellosis) has increased in recent years. According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), 7069 cases were reported in Europe in 2016. The number of cases has also risen in Austria: 100 cases of Legionnaires’ disease were documented in 2013, and 218 were documented in 2017.